Claremont introduces high school principal finalists

CLAREMONT — The search committee for the new Stevens High School principal have narrowed their search to two candidates who will be available to meet with students, staff and the community this week.

The candidates are Jennifer Prileson, who is an assistant principal at Indian River School in Canaan, and Patricia Barry, who is the principal at Hillsboro-Deering Middle School.

The “meet and greet” events are planned for Thursday, April 10, for Prileson and Monday, April 14, for Barry. Both events are from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the upper library at Stevens High School.

“It’s really an opportunity for students and staff to get an appreciation of and to understand who the two finalists are,” SAU No. 6 superintendent Middleton McGoodwin said Wednesday.

The community is welcome to attend as well, he said.

The Stevens High School principal search committee is comprised of Stevens High School freshmen, sophomores and juniors, as well as teachers, staff, parents administrators and community members.

The search committee has been working to find a candidate who meets the community’s needs, expressed through a survey of the school community and of all Claremont residents, McGoodwin said.

“They are clearly looking for an instructional leader who will build relations with students who will strive to have a school that will meet the needs of all the students,” McGoodwin said, supporting the arts, athletics and academic segments of the school community equally.

On Monday the search committee plans to visit the two candidate’s current schools. After the site visit, McGoodwin said he expects the committee would be ready to make its recommendation to him.

“If all goes as planned, I will be able to make a recommendation to the school board next Wednesday,” McGoodwin said. “We’re excited because we’re getting toward the end and we feel we have two competent individuals. … I think both of them have great strengths and abilities.”